Tit for Tat Tariffs - The US versus the World

[RocksInMyHead]

I love free trade, but I don't like our manufacturing getting hollowed-out, and the country being largely dependent on countries like China for our pharmaceuticals, etc.

If American manufacturing can't compete on price, forcing prices to rise to the level of American-made goods is...not a great option. Especially if you've just won an election largely on the back of people struggling with inflation and high prices for goods.

 

[Merrill]

If American manufacturing can't compete on price, forcing prices to rise to the level of American-made goods is...not a great option. Especially if you've just won an election largely on the back of people struggling with inflation and high prices for goods.

American manufacturing isn't competing on price under normal terms

China and other countries greatly subsidize their industries

and some of these countries have basically no labor laws, worker protections, etc. They even use slave labor in some instances

sure, we can get very cheap goods from them, but it wrecks out native industries and is ethically dubious

 

[loveofourlord]

remind me whats bad about trade deficits? I did the math, but there is a trade deficit between canada and the US, and ironicly it's canada that has it, per capita canadians buy more stuff then americans. Were about 1/8th the population but no where near that in trade quick math could have messed up but per capita canada buys nearly 10X's more then the US does, 350$'s us buys vs, over 3k from Canada. I bet you it's the same with every other country.

So yeah, the US is ripping off canada and not buying enough.

 

[camille70]

remind me whats bad about trade deficits? I did the math, but there is a trade deficit between canada and the US, and ironicly it's canada that has it, per capita canadians buy more stuff then americans. Were about 1/8th the population but no where near that in trade quick math could have messed up but per capita canada buys nearly 10X's more then the US does, 350$'s us buys vs, over 3k from Canada. I bet you it's the same with every other country.

So yeah, the US is ripping off canada and not buying enough.

All I know is LPC the little potato company is a Canadian import and I need my little potatoes!!!!

 

[GoldenBoy89]

God help us. We have a full fledged idiot in the White house.
What's even worse, they know people will see through this number stunt, but with his base sure to be board, they don't care.

Huh. I’m more concerned with the 75 million who couldn’t see any of this coming and still refuse to see it all for what it is.

 

[essentialsaltes]

that won't stop China from dumping goods into the US

Pro-tariff personages have been comparing the situation to victory gardens and other wartime efforts. If the American people can't be counted upon to do their part -- after government propaganda fails to steel their resolve -- they deserve what they get.

and won't prevent the EU from slapping 30-40% combined tariff, duties, and VATs on our exports

Tit for tat. That's the game theoretic strategy. For them to do otherwise would be irrational. Why should they prevent that when Trump's actions require it?

Boomers want cheap stuff and rising stocks,

Right, the fault is in their stars.

 

[Infirmus]

As I predicted some time ago - Trump is pushing the EU into the alliance with China. The world will be changed profoundly in the next couple of years.

 

[essentialsaltes]

4 Republican senators join with Democrats to pass bill to overturn Trump’s Canada tariffs​

Four Republicans — Sens. Mitch McConnell (Kentucky), Susan Collins (Maine), Lisa Murkowski (Alaska) and Rand Paul (Kentucky) — defied Trump and Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-South Dakota) by voting with Democrats to invalidate a national emergency that Trump declared in February, allowing him to impose a 25 percent tariff on Canadian goods.

[It passed 51-48]

Trump has vowed to veto the bill, even if it made it through the Republican-controlled House.